The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

If you want to fully attend my today’s lesson, you need three things – a video of “Bittersweet Symphony”, headphones (or indulgent neighbours) and the lyrics of the song in front of you.

My today’s choice is not just another sweet song about life. Instead, it will be a bittersweet song about… life. “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve is a brit-pop classic tune considered by many as anthems among anthems. In fact, this piece has influenced a great many of kids since the late 90’s.

„Bittersweet Symphony” has the potential to make you feel as if you are the most important person in the world and all of your sins have been forgiven.

How come, you’d ask?

I strongly encourage you to watch the state of the art “Bittersweet Symphony” official music video and see it for yourself.

Tekst piosenki The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this lifeTry to make ends meetYou're a slave to money then you dieI'll take you down the only road I've ever been downYou know the one that takes you to the placesWhere all the veins meet, yeah

No change, I can changeI can change, I can changeBut I'm here in my mouldI am here in my mouldBut I'm a million different peopleFrom one day to the nextI can't change my mouldNo, no, no, no, no

Well I never prayBut tonight I'm on my knees yeahI need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in meI let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mindI feel free nowBut the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can changeI can change, I can changeBut I'm here in my mouldI am here in my mouldAnd I'm a million different peopleFrom one day to the nextI can't change my mouldNo, no, no, no, noI can't changeI can't change

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this lifeTry to make ends meetTry to find some money then you dieI'll take you down the only road I've ever been downYou know the one that takes you to the placesWhere all the things meet yeah

You know I can change, I can changeI can change, I can changeBut I'm here in my mouldI am here in my mouldAnd I'm a million different peopleFrom one day to the nextI can't change my mouldNo, no, no, no, no

It is hard for Tom and Harriet to make ends meet these days and I think we should help them. = Tom i Harriet mają teraz trudności finansowe (ciężko im związać koniec z końcem) i myślę, że powinniśmy im pomóc.

Slave

Later on, we hear some even more worrying news:

You’re a slave to money then you die

Jesteś niewolnikiem pieniędzy, a potem umierasz

A slave = a person who is legally owned by someone else and has to work for them, e.g.: Sometimes I think he treats his wife like a slave. = Czasami myślę, że on traktuje swoją żonę jak niewolnika.

Most commonly, a vein is referred to as a tube that carries blood to the heart from the other parts of the body; any blood vessel.

So, according to the song, where do all the veins meet? Is it a heart or something else?

Or maybe this phrase has rather a symbolic meaning?

Vein is also a style or a temporary mood, e.g.:

The opening scene was a bit violent, but the rest of the film continued in a completely different vein. = Pierwsza scena była trochę brutalna, ale reszta filmu była utrzymana w kompletnie innym klimacie.